Chandigarh Olympic Association in more trouble over affiliations

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13

The issue of allotting allegedly arbitrary affiliations to local associations has once again put the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) in the dock.

In a recent embarrassment to the COA, the Hockey India (HI) approved the Hockey Chandigarh as its only allied unit. The COA had granted affiliation to the Field Hockey Chandigarh, instead of the Hockey Chandigarh, to allegedly secure their votes. Earlier, a similar kind of letter was sent to the COA by the Rowing Federation of India (RFI) approving the Chandigarh Rowing Association (CRA) as its affiliated unit. The CRA is also one of the bodies not affiliated to the COA but to the national association.

In a letter dated on December 5, Rajinder Singh, Secretary of HI, mentions that the Hockey Chandigarh is a member of the HI since May 31, 2015. “Currently, Satinder Kumar Sharma is officiating president, Anil Vohra secretary and Sarvesh Sharma is treasurer as per the HI records as on December 4, 2020. The HI recognises the Hockey Chandigarh and will not recognise the member which has arbitrarily been recognised by the COA. This is a reference to letter dated November 20 regarding information of the Field Hockey, Chandigarh.”

Notably, the Chandigarh Olympic Association president had announced that committees would be formed to resolve problems related to affiliation and disaffiliation of local associations before conducting their annual general elections, whereas its secretary had denied any such process — a rift which was reported in these columns. Officials of the technical committee were unavailable for their comments.

“In 2009, we have written to the Chandigarh Olympic Association for granting us affiliation. We were given provisional affiliation. However, when the new office-bearers assumed charge, they kept us at bay. To our surprise, some other association was granted affiliation by the COA. We have to go by the sports code. We are the ones who are sending players to national meets and getting appreciation from the UT Sports Department,” said Vohra, secretary, Hockey Chandigarh.

Chander Mukhi Sharma, president of Chandigarh Basketball Association (CBA) and secretary of Basketball Federation of India (BFI), who has been raising these issues, said the COA office-bearers had allotted affiliations just for the sake of it. “Associations sending teams to nationals, getting grants from the UT Sports Department and having affiliation of the Indian Olympics Association have been kept by bay by the COA. The IOA should intervene in the matter and take notice of this. There are many such associations affiliated to the COA which are totally illegal and defunct,” said Sharma.